CRICKET IN KOLKATA : EDEN GARDEN PITCH

No Mean Task Ahead Of Indians

      THERE is so much being made of the pitch at the Eden Gardens that however it turns out, whatever its nature and behaviour over the next five days, it is bound to be a let down. As for me, all I am expecting is a typical, low bounce surface that will not excite anyone too much, It will again take good cricket on part of one side and poor cricket from the other for a result to come about.

      Under these circumstances, I think it is time to lay to rest this theory about the Indians needing a left hander in the middle order - a slot earlier filled by Sourav Ganguly and later by the now injury-hit Yuvraj singh - to counter the negative line that is bound to be adopted again by left-arm spinner Paul Harris. He may still be able to exploit the bowlers' footmarks, yes, but the lack of bounce will not allow him too much leeway and batsmen will not be that wary or defensive as was the case in Nagpur,. In any case, a left-hander when up against the ball coming in from the rough and without the luxury of being able to pad the ball away will have it that much tougher.

      Besides all that, the form showed by S Badrinath in the opening test warrants another chance and so there should be no question of Suresh Raina replacing him for now In the batting lne-up I would expect a straight swap, VVS Laxman coming on for Saha and that is it.

       Laxman's return is bound to be a big boost for the Indians but they will have to play out of their sins to stop this South African side. Rarely have I seen a visiting side dominate an Indian side so and so it will take a lot to down them.